HELP!!!! Bank Account Frozen / No-ops

benog1985

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help me here. I tried to log in to my bank account using my iPhone app yesterday morning and it wouldn't let me in so I tried to log in online and once again it wouldn't allow me access.

I went into my local branch and received a letter with the following content;

"We refer to your recent requests to access the above accounts through the different channels available, i.e. Online banking, ATM, Point of Sale, e.t.c. We have been unable to provdie access and write to inform you that we are not able to proceed with these requests at this time.

Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide any further information at this time.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and will revert to you as soon as we are able. "

I also spoke to the bank manager who informed me that he has no information for me and I also spoke to the complaints department who said they are unable to discuss these accounts at the moment.

This has me worried as to why and also the fact that I have no money available to me and direct debits to go out on the 1st (Friday).

Does anyone have any knowledge as to why they may have done this or can point me in the right direction to speak to someone because at the moment it is like a closed shop and all the while I have no money to pay for fuel, shopping etc etc.

Thanks in advance.

grumbler

What is frozen? The account or the online access? The letter doesn't say anything about the account. When they say 'ATM and POS', did you really have any problems with your card?

benog1985

Hi,

The whole thing apparently. I tried to log into my account using my app & online and it wouldn't let me and I've been in branch to ask them and they say they can't discuss this account nor can I have my money.

The thing that is most annoying/worrying is they won't tell me why. If they said to me, it is to check account security or whatever and it will be back available in 48 hours I'm happy to wait but at the moment I have no access to my account nor a reason as to why. All i keep getting is that they can't discuss this with me.

Any ideas ?

grumbler

Security departments in all companies like playing 'big man" games while being incapable of making a simple job fast enough.

benog1985

Yes I understand this but what can/shall i do ?

And why would they have reason to do this ??

grumbler

I would follow their complaints procedure and demand a compensation for inconvenience and obscurity. It's worth checking what the T&C say about this first.

Do they refuse giving you cash even in a branch?

benog1985

I will do that but it doesn't change the fact that I have no money whatsoever now and I am due to be paid tomorrow into this account so won't be able to pay direct debits etc etc.

The T&C's say that they can freeze an account if they suspect fraudulent or criminal activity which there isn't any. It's the whole closed shop that worries me, they simply won't tell me anything AT ALL.

meer53

Sounds like an anti money laundering check to me. No-one at the bank will be able to discuss this with you and they will prevent access to your accounts whilst they investigate this.

Have you paid in or withdrawn any cheques, or cash or made any online money movements recently ? Doesn't have to be a large amount, could be small amounts. What do you use your account for ?

grumbler

benog1985 wrote: »

I will do that but it doesn't change the fact that I have no money whatsoever now and I am due to be paid tomorrow into this account so won't be able to pay direct debits etc etc.

The T&C's say that they can freeze an account if they suspect fraudulent or criminal activity which there isn't any. It's the whole closed shop that worries me, they simply won't tell me anything AT ALL.

The more you suffer from this, the bigger compensation you can claim. Just borrow some money and use this as a good opportunity to make money from the bloody bank. If needed, take this to the FOS ultimately.

One day is more than enough for checking the basic information and to either 'charge' you or to give you some access to your money. They just don't want to move their fat asses.

meer53

grumbler wrote: »

The more you suffer from this, the bigger compensation you can claim. Just borrow some money and use this as a good opportunity to make money from the bloody bank. If needed, take this to the FOS ultimately.

If the OP suffers financially from this action, Natwest will refund any fees incurred.

Talking about compensation and taking it to the FOS is ridiculous.

grumbler

meer53 wrote: »

If the OP suffers financially from this action, Natwest will refund any fees incurred.

Just 'financially' and just 'fees'?! What about 'physically'?
What if it is the only OP's account and the OP doesn't have any money, say, to buy food or petrol?

Talking about compensation and taking it to the FOS is ridiculous.

This depends on for how long they will keep dragging their feet and keep the OP starving.